Research shows that most 4th Graders think more about themselves than other people. And that the young people of today are overwhelmed with personal success rather than carrying out an act of kindness, according to a new study by the researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. So, is it time to teach your children and youths to sow the lifelong habits of kindness?
MSN Lifestyle reports that the research involved 10,000 middle and high school students from 33 schools across the U.S. They assessed the students and conversed with them and their parents for more than a decade. They asked them what was the most important to them.
The outcome shows that 80% of young people chose personal happiness or high achievement. And being kind or caring to others landed on fifth.
"Our youth's values appear to be awry and the messages that adults are sending may be at the heart of the problem," the author of the study said.
Australian Kindness Movement states that an act of kindness is an act of love and a gesture of goodwill toward humans as well as the kingdoms of nature and animals. It is summed up in a statement "I care." When children learn to be kind and caring, they show positive behaviors and feel good about themselves. Being kind reaps happiness. Your children will be happier if they will spread kindness to those around them. They also develop friendship and improve their achievements in school.
The team from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Roots of Action share the following four guidelines that can help parents and teachers nurture kindness to their children and students:
1. Impart the Importance of Kindness
Talk with your children the benefits and effects of being kind and caring to other people, animals and nature. Discuss with them some great men and women of ages who were noticeable for their acts of kindness and heroic deeds.
As a role model, teach your children and youths how to practice kindness at home, at school or even at the roads or park. Kindness must also be practiced and worked on. Ensure that your children are doing good to their friends and neighbors, helping at household chores in a home or bathing your pets.
2. Show Concerns Around Them
The experts said that children and young people must listen to those around them and try to understand the situation. Enlarging their circle of concerns can enable the children to shower kindness to those in need.
You can also create a kindness project wherein you can record an act of kindness or one good activity every day. This includes washing the dishes, feeding an animal, helping a friend, hugging someone or other people who need comfort. You may also take your children to some places wherein they can show kindness such as at home for the aged, orphanage or even in their grandparents' house.
3. Be a Role Model of Kindness
Parents and teachers need not be perfect yet experts said they must be the role models of kindness. The team said they must "continually practice and zooming in and out."
When your children see that you are kind in dealing with other people, taking care of animals and concern about nature, they would emulate you and do the same things. Thus, it is significant that you instill kindness to your children through actions.
4. Managing Destructive Feelings
Sometimes there is a probability that you want to be kind and do good to people; however, it is overpowered by selfishness, anger or envy that hinders you from doing good.
"Often the ability to care for others is overwhelmed by anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings," the researchers said.
The parents and teachers must advise and teach their children and students to know how to deal with such destructive feelings in more productive ways.
